The number of Roma people permanently living in Sofia was 110 000, Sofia mayor Boiko Borissov said at the opening ceremony of a block of flats for Roma people in the residential district of Hristo Botev.

The data came from a census taken by the Sofia municipality, Focus news agency reported.

According to the public Roma council, the Roma population in the capital reached 250 000 because of Roma people arriving from the countryside.

Borissov said the main goal of the municipality was to limit the uncontrolled settling of Roma people from the countryside in Sofia, as well as the construction of homes for the Roma population living in the city.

The next block of flats to be built would most probably be located in the residential district of Suhodol.

The municipality would probably demolish the existing Roma ghettos and would build blocks in their place with money from the EU, Borissov said.